IP Library Granted Patent US 12,705,196
Granted Patent B2
US 12,705,196 · App. 18/888,884 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Controller, setting method, computer-readable recording medium, and information processing apparatus

Inventors: Takeshi Toinaga (Tokyo, JP); Yoshitaka Yoshida (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
G06F13/36G06F2213/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,705,196
App. No.
18/888,884
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A controller transmits a request for input/output setting of data to a management server, receives input/output information that defines the input/output setting and that is associated with the controller that performs control of a system from the management server, and performs the input/output setting of the own instrument based on the received input/output information.

Claims (25)

1 . A controller for an industrial automation system, comprising:

a transmission/reception unit that transmits a request for input/output setting of data to an information processing apparatus, and that receives, from the information processing apparatus, input/output information for at least one of a plurality of input/output channels of the controller, the input/output information defining a physical input/output type that is associated with the at least one of the plurality of input/output channels, the input/output information being associated with the controller that performs control of an associated system including a plurality of field instruments in a plant; and

a setting unit that performs the input/output setting of an input/output module of the controller based on the received input/output information.

2 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein, in a case where the setting unit receives the input/output information from the information processing apparatus to which the request has been transmitted, the setting unit calls an application programming interface that is associated with the input/output setting by using the input/output information, and performs setting of an input/output module in the controller.

3 . The controller according to claim 2 , wherein the setting unit calls an application programming interface that is common to the associated system and that is related to the input/output setting by using the input/output information, further calls the application programming interface that is associated with the input/output setting that is different for each system, and performs setting of an input/output module in the controller.

4 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission/reception unit receives the input/output information that defines an input/output type of the data passing through each of input/output channels of the controller and that is associated with identification information on the controller.

5 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission/reception unit transmits the request to the information processing apparatus when the controller is connected to a communication network including the information processing apparatus for the first time, or when a control system including the controller is connected to the communication network after a system configuration has been changed.

6 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the controller conforms to Open Process Automation (OPA), Module Type Package (MTP), or NAMUR Open Architecture (NOA).

7 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the controller conforms to Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture (OPC UA).

8 . A setting method executed by a computer of a controller for an industrial automation system, the setting method comprising:

transmitting a request for input/output setting of data to an information processing apparatus;

receiving, from the information processing apparatus, input/output information for at least one of a plurality of input/output channels of the controller, the input/output information defining a physical input/output type that is associated with the at least one of the plurality of input/output channels, the input/output information being associated with the controller that performs control of an associated system including a plurality of field instruments in a plant; and

performing the input/output setting an input/output module of on the controller based on the received input/output information.

9 . A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having stored therein a setting program that causes a computer of a controller for an industrial automation system to execute a process comprising:

transmitting a request for input/output setting of data to an information processing apparatus;

receiving, from the information processing apparatus, input/output information for at least one of a plurality of input/output channels of the controller, the input/output information defining a physical input/output type that is associated with the at least one of the plurality of input/output channels, the input/output information being associated with the controller that performs control of an associated system including a plurality of field instruments in a plant; and

performing the input/output setting of the controller based on the received input/output information.

10 . An information processing apparatus comprising:

an acquisition unit that acquires, in a case where the acquisition unit has accepted a request for input/output setting of data in a controller that performs control of an industrial automation system including a plurality of field instruments in a plant, input/output information for at least one of a plurality of input/output channels of the controller, the input/output information defining a physical input/output type that is associated with the at least one of the plurality of input/output channels of the controller and that is associated with the controller; and

a transmission unit that transmits the input/output information to the controller in which the request has been accepted.

11 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein, in a case where the acquisition unit has accepted the request, the acquisition unit refers to a predetermined database that stores therein the input/output information, and acquires the input/output information that is associated with identification information on the controller in which the request has been accepted.

12 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the physical input/output type includes at least one of Analog Input (AI), Analog Output (AO), Digital Input (DI), and Digital Output (DO).

13 . The setting method according to claim 8 , wherein the physical input/output type includes at least one of Analog Input (AI), Analog Output (AO), Digital Input (DI), and Digital Output (DO).

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 9 , wherein the physical input/output type includes at least one of Analog Input (AI), Analog Output (AO), Digital Input (DI), and Digital Output (DO).

15 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the physical input/output type includes at least one of Analog Input (AI), Analog Output (AO), Digital Input (DI), and Digital Output (DO).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2024
From: TOINAGA, TAKESHI; YOSHIDA, YOSHITAKA
To: YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 068785/0854 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2023-170180 · Sep 29, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250110904A1 · Apr 3, 2025
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